Directions to Steam Pasta

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Things You'll Need

  • Restaurant or home steamer

  • Fresh pasta

  • Olive oil

  • Water

Steam fresh pasta to create the perfect al dente noodles.

Steaming pasta is not complicated if you start with the right pasta. Dry hard pasta cannot be steamed. Steaming dry pasta leaves you with a lumpy, sticky, glued-together mess. You can, however, steam fresh pasta or reheat cooked pasta by steaming.

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Step 1

Lay out as much fresh pasta as you plan to use in the steamer pans that come with your steamer. Lay the pasta flat and spread it out as much as you can.

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Step 2

Add the recommended amount of water for your steamer, usually just enough to cover the pasta.

Step 3

Cover the steamer pan with a lid or close the lid if you are using a commercial steamer. Steam the noodles for seven minutes.

Step 4

Remove the lid or cover and stir the pasta, then close the lid or cover of the steamer.

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Step 5

Steam for seven more minutes, then remove the pasta from the steamer.

Step 6

Drizzle olive oil over the pasta and then strain it through a colander to remove any excess liquid. The pasta should be a perfect al dente texture. For softer pasta, steam one to two minutes longer.

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